Adorning your fridge, walls and computer desktop are photos of your family, friends and the places you've visited. While those memories remain sharp, perhaps some of those photos need a bit more focus.

Frank Cricchio, renowned Port Arthur photographer, offers routine photography workshops at the Texas Artist Museum and also gives seminars at national photographers' conferences. He said when he sees photos taken by the average person, he can typically find some room for improvement.

Here are some of Cricchio's tips for better photos:

The basics of composition

The key to snapping some of the best shots simply is to get closer. There only are so many mega pixels in a digital image to expand on, Cricchio said, so don't count on cropping the photo later. He recommends taking several large steps closer to the subjects in your photos.

Photographing events, children, sports

Cricchio said certain types of situations like school plays, sporting events and a child's birthday party call for a different approach to photographing.

If you're at a big party or your sister's wedding reception, Cricchio recommends using a zoom lens to capture moments without your subjects noticing. Candid photographs keep you focused on what's in the photo, not how it was taken, Cricchio said.

"The best photos you can take are the ones where you can't tell the photographer is there," Cricchio said.

He added that getting good photos of children is tough - they're a subject that stays on the move.

"We have a saying that if you put them in the deep freeze the night before, they don't move the next morning," Cricchio jokingly said.

Once you figure out a way to keep the kids still, Cricchio recommends dropping down to their level because they get excited and are more apt to show you their natural smile.

For sports photography, you need to think and snap faster. If you're using manual camera controls, you'll want to increase your shutter speed.

Subjects are going to blur because they're moving. But if you continue to follow the subject, you might get a clear shot. Cricchio said if you can shoot an athlete as they're taking their first step, you'll catch them in their most tense and ready state.

Holding the camera

When people capture blurry or unexpected images, they usually blame innocent equipment, Cricchio said. A big part of photo success is how the user controls the camera, he said, adding that digital camera design has encouraged poor posture and stance for shooting photos.

"Because the image is instantly on the back of the camera, people hold it out (in front of them) to see the image and take the photograph," Cricchio said. "When you extend your arms out like that, you're going to get a lot of motion in your cameras, which will lead to unsharp images."

To prevent blurring your photo, Cricchio suggests holding the camera firmly with both hands, pulling in your elbows close to your sides and keeping your feet apart. The goal is to stabilize yourself as much as possible and act like a tripod for the camera. He said to use the through-the-lens viewfinder if your camera has one.

Dealing with Southeast Texas weather

Cricchio has spent years perfecting his skills, but there's one element that he or any other photographer has never managed to control: the weather. Since the area is prone to fog and overcast light, he said Southeast Texans should learn how to adjust their cameras to deal with weather woes.

Cloudy weather conditions reduce the amount of light, making for less contrast and consequently a softer image. To get a better photo, you need to tweak the contrast or tone setting in your camera, Cricchio said. You'll get more vivid photos, even if the weather is crummy.

Keeping colors natural and avoiding red-eye

Too common among amateurs is the common nighttime image of blown-out white skin and a dark background. It's usually caused by the common flash built into most automatic cameras, Cricchio said. He offers as a solution, changing your camera's settings to a matrix setting, which automatically adjusts brightness. If your camera doesn't offer this feature, you might have to go in and manually tinker with the flash brightness.